Jack Goodson examines how the CrossFit Games Open has affected smaller boxes in Tennessee.

Unlike Memphis or, say, Knoxville—Big Orange Country, if you will—there is only one CrossFit affiliate in Jackson, Tenn.

And, fittingly, there was only one CrossFit Open competitor.

Jackson, just over an hour west of Memphis, is the home of CrossFit Jackson—simply named, family owned, with a family atmosphere. This box is family, in the very sense of the word.

CrossFit Jackson is currently home to 24 members. The ceiling for owners Jayson and Jennie Keel is 30. To many, that may seem unimpressive. Not to the Keels. The couple, along with their members, enjoys the intimate, family-centric setting. They intend for it to remain that way.

They don’t, however, intend for next year’s CrossFit Games Open to be an individual competition.

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